NEVER KISSED BY THE QUEEN
(The Black Countess From Bain Street)
A documentary work-in-progress by Maggie Follett of South Africa's Potboiler Productions Wellington about the extraordinary love affair between Martha Solomons, a humble semi-literate, Dutch-speaking daughter of a freed Cape slave, and Harry Grey, Oxford educated clergyman and exiled aristocrat from a noble British family. A chance meeting one night in the rural town of Wellington during the 1860's lead to their eventual marriage. When Harry unexpectedly inherited the title 8th Earl of Stamford, Martha became his Countess, scandalizing Victorian England and shaking the House of Lords to its foundations. It created a tabloid frenzy, especially as the Queen was expected to kiss the cheeks of the wives of Peers of the Realm. But despite the hysteria and a lengthy legal battle, Harry's beloved Lady Martha had other, more far reaching plans to consider for her future and her interracial children.
Written by Maggie Follett
Cinematography by Etienne Neser
Music by Heine du Toit
Directed by Jerome Mouton and Maggie Follett
blackcountessmartha.tk
Currently in Pre Production for Principal Photography in
South Africa, the UK, Spain and New Zealand.
Funded in Part by the National Film and Video Foundation
of South Africa (NFVF).
A Belvedere Film Co-Production for 2011.
Mars in Aries
Vienna 1939. The most important choice of all is fate.
In the tradition of such films as The English Patient, Atonement, and Valkyrie. Based on the acclaimed Nazi resistance novel by Alexander Lernet-Holenia, Mars im Widder, which was banned upon publication in 1941.
MARS IN ARIES
Script Adaptation: Robert von Dassanowsky, Elfi von Dassanowsky,
and Judy Sharinger
Principal Photography in Austria, Poland, Hungary.
English translation of the novel by
Robert von Dassanowsky and Elisabeth Littell Frech
from Ariadne Press.
SEMMELWEIS
The legendary 19th century medical revolutionary who championed women over medical tradition and was deemed a madman.
Belvedere Film proudly announces its development of the feature length script by filmmaker Jim Berry based on his award winning dramatic short
and forthcoming graphic novel.
